When No. 1 Kiddo (currently 10 years) was very young, maybe 3 years old, went bouncing on the jumping pillow at a Caravan Park on a holiday. He wanted to bounce all the time I remember him wanting to watch prerecorded Bear Grylls videos over and over again as if they were instructional video’s on skills needed to face the day.

When No.1 Kiddo was 5 years old I remember him playing on the jumping pillow at the caravan park holiday and he found some boys to hang around with who No.1 Kiddo thought were his friends even though they clearly found him an annoying tag along and made fun of him. This made me angry No.1 Kiddo did not recognize the unkindness in these boys and he wanted me to go away. I cautioned No. 1 Kiddo, wanting to protect him but also realizing that he has to find his own way in navigating this social interaction. These were mean to him. They made fun of him and took advantage of No.1 Kiddo’s naivety and he couldn’t understand that they weren’t being friends. HE could not understand that they were not looking after him. No. 1 Kiddo used to jump on the jumping pillow. I remember when he was 5 years old and started school. (Post in progress)

It is really important for parents/carers to look after themselves. It is a really hard road. But you are not alone. The “raisingchildren.net.au’, Children with ASD & Disability website may be of assistance. Find a suppport group, go for a run, do what you need to do to have a relaxation. It’s so important for your own peace of mind. Painting is excellent. Go for a walk. Swim. A calm place just for you. Essential oils. Massage. Gardening. There are so many things pressing on your time. Your calmness in all this is what will get you through. Your child is still your child. The importance of having fun with your child and sharing a smile and laughing. It’s everything to me.

So we have my family, and this morning it’s kinda be of like the four stooges trying to be on time! Is it Monday-Itis magnified? I have to laugh! So we have to get ready on Monday morning, and 10 year old No. 1 Kiddo has worn his school clothes to bed, the night before, because getting dressed in the morning and keeping on time is too stressful. It’s a plan that has been devised by himself and It works.

Time ticks on and we have to leave the house and I am talking about literally walking over the doorstep. Oscar gets in the car. No. 1 Kiddo has developed a repetitive routine so he cAn get in the car, so it’s a walk around the car 2 times, a tap on the door, etc. almost like he is developing a kinesthetic awareness of body mechanics, before he gets in, behind the driver’s seat. But mum goes out, to open the boot, because she is looking to have the keys which, I can’t remember if I have locked the keys in the boot, or not.

Oh darn, it I have ruined his routine and he tells me so “so bloody hell mum, you have stuffed up my routine and now I have to do it all again.

Those words, those words. I hear them often. I assure him that he does not need to, I try to affirm that his making a choice, but in his world – he must do it. Time fly’s out the window.

I must remember to wear my industrial strength ear muffs in the car which. Solves two problems. It dulls the shrill pitch in my son’s voice so I driving to school in a tin can has a modicum of ease about It. It’s comforting.

Then his father comes out and ready to get what he needs out of the car boot, it opens, “Oh bloody hell Dad, my routine!” Both Mum and No.1 Kiddo say! We all laugh in hysterics it’s the four stooges skit at my house this morning.

No 1 Kiddo’s first birthday was wonderful, he stared at the presents instead of opening them.

I remember his 4th Christmas when he got so many more presents than his tiny brother, No. 1 Kiddo opened a few and then seemed to get fatigued and just liked to look at the unopened presents. He liked to store them in the cupboard in his room.

We have been on quite a few journeys across Australia visiting rellies on holidays and he likes to keep a momento to remember the significant time or journey, I remember we were on a ndirt road, central Australia, No. 2 kiddo is 4 months old and he saw a tumble weed tumbling across the dirt rd and he wanted to get it. I chased after it and retrieved it. Immediately presented with the problem that if we packed it in our van and tried to take it all the way home it would crack and break. I tried to describe this to him but he was too young to understand.

When we got to Kings Canyon we stopped and pitched the caravan, we had driven a long way and No. 1 Kiddo wanted to get out and play on playground. He wanted to play with some other kids. The other kids did not want to extend themselves to include him in their play and he could not understand that. He kept on trying to include himself in their group and they were trying to end interaction with him. I could see what was happenning and tried to get him to come and play with me but he still persisted with the other kids. They didn’t want to play with him and he started crying. What do you do in times like that. I don’t want my son to be hurt by other kids. #Autism #Birthdays #Central Australia #Kings Canyon #Uluru

I don’t know how to control it. Keep things at a low stress level all the time. Let him do what he wants to do. He loves playing games on the computer so I try to inspire both my boys with the idea of coding, get them doing code kingdoms to learn how to code so he they are not just a passive viewer/watcher of you tube video’s but a creator. It’s all very tiring. Gosh I am tired right now as all day I have been 1. actively driving for school pick up and drop off, 2. paying household bills, 3. House chores, 4. Literally running all over Adelaide, from the beach to the the city and other areas to raise awareness of Autism in the community and for our school, doing what needs to be done for that, and registering for the 2017 City to Bay Fun Run. I’m tired now. How do ease his anxiety, shall I get the boys running as well? Any suggestions.